Super Sale cut down Quins

Sale Sharks took a huge step towards the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a priceless bonus-point victory over Pool Five rivals Harlequins at The Stoop.

The visitors triumphed 29-19 in the capital to record their first away victory of the season and all-but end Quins' qualification hopes in the process.

Dwayne Peel, Nick Macleod, David Seymour and Ben Cohen all crossed for the Sharks as they moved level on points with second-placed Cardiff Blues in a tightly-contested pool.

Quins were the architects of their own downfall in front of their home fans and tries from Nick Evans, David Strettle and Nick Easter failed to stop them crashing to a third straight defeat in the competition.

Textbook

Quins fly-half Evans got play underway in glorious sunshine and the crowd had just seven minutes to wait before witnessing the first of five tries scored in the opening 40 minutes.

The move started deep in Sale's 22 when full-back Macleod claimed a high catch and the ball was spread wide to Mathew Tait.

The England international neatly switched the ball inside and Cohen offloaded to Peel who crashed over for a textbook score.

Charlie Hodgson, standing in as captain in place of the injured Dean Schofield, fired over the conversion to give Sale the perfect start.

Harlequins barely had time to regroup before the impressive Macleod dived over for his second Heineken Cup try.

Welsh centre Lee Thomas provided the defence-splitting pass to rampaging hooker Neil Briggs, and Macleod was on hand to offer support.

Hodgson's conversion put Sale 14-0 ahead, however Quins got themselves on the board on 19 minutes when Evans scored a virtuoso try.

The former New Zealand international collected his delicate chip over the static Sale defence and raced under the posts before converting with ease.

However, Sale sensationally hit back just 10 seconds later. Quins skipper Easter spilled Hodgson's restart under pressure from Briggs and openside flanker Seymour picked up the pieces to score.

The points continued to come thick and fast as the half progressed, Strettle bringing Quins back into the contest after quick hands from Chris Robshaw and Chris Brooker had sent him away down the blindside.

Evans missed the tough touchline conversion and Hodgson's penalty ensured Sale went into the interval 24-12 ahead.

Ambition

After turning down a three-point opportunity at the start of the second half, Quins were eventually rewarded for their ambition on 48 minutes when Easter bundled his way over and Evans converted.

With just one try now seperating the sides the next score was always going to prove crucial.

And on 51 minutes it was Sale who struck again, Hodgson this time made the break and man-of-the-match Seymour was again in support.

The ball was recycled wide from the breakdown, enabling Cohen to race down the wing and touch down for a try that clinched the extra point.

Hodgson's miss kept the score at 29-19 to the visitors, and that is how the match ended despite concerted Quins pressure in the latter stages.